by: Jody Johnston

I was born with a life threatening condition. My father and mother were both carriers, so me receiving it was inevitable. The moment I was brought out from my mother’s womb, the doctors knew I was going to die. My mother held me and kissed me, my father cried in the joy of my birth; but they knew I was going to die.

I never realized the seriousness of my situation until I was old enough to really think on my own. I knew I was going to die, everyone does, but I didn’t know what would happen after death because of my condition.

My condition is a daily struggle for me and one that I need support and community in order to battle. It is sin, and it is your condition too.

Death is not our disease, sin is.

Listen, many of you reading this have accepted and know what Christ did on the cross. It is only because of Christ’s sacrifice that we even have an opportunity to receive aid in our struggles.

Life is a gift for you today and everyday. It's not anything that you have earned or could possibly gain by being creative enough. We have beaten death, because we have accepted love!

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:55–57

We get so caught up in the politics and arguments of this world that we often forget our main reason for being. We are set here as followers of Christ to be in the world as salt and light. Instead of being in the world, we have become a part of the world. We do not need to worry about our survival, but our revival! It is time we start living like Jesus and treat people like He did. Our churches have become divided because of the agendas of men. The leaders have begun to call their will God’s. Jesus did not call us to go to war against sin in the world–He did that and won.

Please, friend, do not be surprised when people who do not know Jesus act like they haven't met Him. Use the gift of Christ's grace as it was intended and give it away to everyone. When you first received grace from Jesus, you did't deserve it, and you still don’t. In all things, be generous in grace.

Christian: It is time that we bow to our knees, cleanse ourselves and ask for God’s love to overtake our lives. If we continue to live lives that are set apart from God, unconcerned with His work of bringing His creation close to Him, then we have forgotten Him. It is time to get to know the God of the Bible rather than the God in our heads.